Three Ways to Get Ready for the World Cup

We usually use this space for team previews, but before you can do a proper preview, you need the right material. Consider this the pre-preview: a look at three things worth picking up before the tournament kicks off.

World Soccer Collector's Special

The World Soccer World Cup 2026 magazine is beautiful in its simplicity. At 212 pages with ads only on the inner covers, it is pure, uninterrupted preview from cover to cover.

Each of the 48 teams gets four pages of proper insight — a brief explainer about the country, a word from the manager, the take of local journalists on the ground, a look at every player in the squad, and a predicted starting eleven. It is exactly the kind of format that rewards flicking through rather than reading cover to cover in one sitting.

I've already found it invaluable for getting a feel for who plays for who and getting a snapshot of squad strengths. It is sitting on my coffee table and will stay there throughout the tournament, something to pick up and refer to whenever a game comes on and you want a bit of context.

A UK retail price of £7.99 with a wallchart, it's a steal!

The Official Adidas Trionda Match Ball

No review piece like this would be complete without getting the ball at your feet. The official Adidas Trionda has a noticeably hard feel at first, which takes a bit of adjusting to if you're used to a softer touch.

Once you've got used to it and learned to expect that firmer response, though, it genuinely rewards you. The extra control for dribbling is real, and when you catch it right it has a very sweet strike to it. You can buy it via the Amazon link above.

BBC iPlayer — World Cup Archive Content

The BBC has quietly added a excellent collection of World Cup content to iPlayer ahead of the tournament. There are loads of short clips — roughly seven to twelve minutes each — covering iconic matches and individual performances throughout the competition's history.

Like any proper football fan, I started with the 1986 Maradona clip. It is a collection of his touches throughout the match — the retro feel, the beautiful first touches, and one memorable moment where a linesman refuses to let him take a corner until he has put the corner flag back properly. It is the kind of content that reminds you what the World Cup can be at its best, and it absolutely whets the appetite for what is to come.

Worth an hour of anyone's time in the build-up.